In San Luca, following in the footsteps of writer Corrado Alvaro

The trip to San Luca, in the province of Reggio Calabria, revolves around the figure of Corrado Alvaro, a Calabrian writer who won the Strega Prize in 1952 with his novel Quasi una vita (Almost a Life).

Built in the 16th century to accommodate the inhabitants of the ancient village of Potamia, destroyed by a landslide, the village of San Luca lies in the heart of the Aspromonte National Park and is the birthplace of Corrado Alvaro, the source of inspiration for his early works.

Let's discover the literary itinerary in the footsteps of Calabria's most important writer.

The name of San Luca is linked to Alvaro, a Calabrian writer, journalist, reporter and foreign correspondent, one of the leading figures of 20th-century Italy. Corrado Alvaro, an illustrious son of Aspromonte, was born in San Luca in 1895 and his early literary works, mainly represented by the 'long story' Gente in Aspromonte (People in Aspromonte), are linked to this area. Its pages feature faces and places that have remained in the history of Italian literature and cinema, starting with the important Shrine of the Madonna di Polsi, one of the Marian shrines most loved by Calabrians and the destination of a heartfelt annual pilgrimage. Corrado Alvaro, from a middle-class family, did not hesitate to denounce injustices against the poor, without however renouncing his Roman education, which consecrated him among the greats.

Visiting the places associated with Corrado Alvaro in San Luca means crossing the threshold of his birthplace, now a House-Museum, to admire books, documents, furnishings and memorabilia belonging to Alvaro, one of Calabria's most acclaimed writers. Strolling through the narrow streets of the village is like leafing through the pages of his early works, where you can see the remains of the Castle, the Church of S. Maria della Pietà, the ruins of Palazzo Stranges and the Loggia del Petto.

San Luca is the starting point for all kinds of excursions in the Aspromonte National Park, which can be considered a literary park in every sense, linked not only to the figure of Corrado Alvaro, but also to the great international writers of the Grand Tour, who travelled through it between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 20th century, composing memorable 'travel diaries' and charcoal and watercolour drawings. Among them was the famous traveller Edward Lear, to whom the Englishman's Trail is dedicated.

Another unmissable excursion in the footsteps of Aspromonte's stories and legends is the Brigand's Path, recalling the times when these woods were a refuge for controversial characters. Nature lovers should definitely discover the Valley of the Great Stones, home to the majestic UNESCO World Heritage Geosites. Characterised by a great biodiversity of animals and plants, Aspromonte encompasses enchanting locations such as Montalto, Mount S. Elia, Lake Rumia and Lake Costantino, which offer breathtaking views near Gambarie d'Aspromonte, the 'sea view' ski resort in the municipality of Santo Stefano in Aspromonte.